Episode 1 was hosted by Richard Whiteley(pictured) alongside "hostesses" Cathy Hytner and Beverley Isherwood, who placed letter and number tiles on the board respectively. Isherwood also created three-digit targets for the numbers rounds using a random-number generator, introduced as CECIL – "Countdown's Electronic Calculator in Leeds". This name is still used today, despite production of Countdown moving to Manchester in 2009. Before the first numbers game, CECIL initially generated a target of 988. However, this was intended as an example of how CECIL worked, and was not used as the target number for the round. Carol Vorderman was the programme's "vital statistician", responsible for checking contestants' calculations and solving numbers rounds where necessary. During Series 1 and Series 2, this role was alternated with Dr Linda Barrett.

This episode was repeated on 2 November 2007 to recognise Countdown and Channel 4's 25th anniversary.